Gas mixer



G. A. PICKETT Dec. 7, 1937.

GAS MIXER Filed Aug. 31, 1935 Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention is designed to be employed in conjunction with carburetorsin explosive engines. The prime purpose thereof is to provide a devicewhich will "aid "in vaporizing explosive fluids coming from thecarburetor and still in a liquid state. In the carburetion of explosivefluids difficulty has been encountered in the fact that portions of saidfluid have been incomplete- 1y vaporized. These fluids still in a liquidstate are carried along the walls of the passageway leading from thecarburetor to the engine; this feature is objectionable, as is wellknown in the art.

The object of my invention is to catch and collect the liquid andtransform it into a vaporous state wherein it may be employed in runningthe engine.

Preferably, my invention consists of a connection to be introducedbetween the carburetor and the inlet manifold of an explosive engine. Inconjunction with such connection there are two superposed screen membersconical in shape. The base of the lower screen member is co-extensivewith the passageway in the connection. The upper screen member ispositioned with its apex upon the apex of the lower screen member;however, its taper is greater than that of the lower screen member andconsequently there is provided between the two screen members exteriorlyof the lower and interiorly of the upper a region for collecting anddiffusing the explosive fuel still in a liquid state. These screenmembers when the connection is in place are disposed within the inletpassageway of the inlet manifold. Also, the connection is provided withone or more passageways from the exterior communicating with theinterior passageway, which passageways are arranged tangentially withregard to said interior passageway. Air is introduced through suchpassageway and by reason of their position causes a swirling or rotationof air and gas mixture within the interior passageway, thus thoroughlymixing the motor fluid still in a liquid state and diffusing it andvaporizing it as it passes through the conical screen members.

A more complete understanding of the construction, operation and objectsof the invention will be attained upon reading the description thereoffollowing, aided by the several views thereof in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary side-sectional elevation ofan inlet manifold to an explosive engine and the outlet passagewayleading from a carburetor and connecting to the inlet passageway to suchmanifold, and shows my invention being employed in conjunctiontherewith, said invention being shown in like sectional view."

Figure 2 is a plan 'view of the invention with portions broken away toshow the construction. Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation ofportions of an inlet manifold and the outlet portion of a carburetorwith portions broken away to illustrate the mounting of my invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective of the mixing device.

In the drawing, similar characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views, and the numeral I indicates a portion of an inletmanifold where it connects with the outlet portion of a carburetor,respectively indicated by the numerals I and 2, and provided withinternal passageways likewise respectively indicated by the numerals Iand 2'. The inlet to the manifold and the outlet to the carburetor areprovided with flange connections 3 and 4 respectively, of a type wellknown in the art.

My device is designed to be introduced between the inlet of the manifoldand the outlet of the carburetor, and basically consists of a plate orconnection 5, having bolt slots 6 to receive the bolts 1 connecting theflanges 3 and 4 together, as is well known in the art. The plate 5 isprovided with an interior passageway 8, corresponding in size to thepassageway in the outlet and inlet of the aforesaid. Mounted to theplate 5 is a conical diffusing screen 9 having its base I0 co-extensivewith the walls of the passageway 8 in plate 5 to which it is secured.Above the screen member 9 is another conical screen II supported byhaving its apex I2 affixed to the apex I3 of member 9. Screen II, thoughconical, has a greater taper than the preceding screen whichconstruction provides a spacing I4 between the inside of the upperscreen and the outside of the lower screen. The base 15 of the upperscreen is preferably co-extensive with the diameter of the passageway I.Within the plate 5 and connecting with passageway 8 and leading from theexterior or outer periphery of member 5 are slots I6 which constitutepassageways tangentially arranged with regard to passageway 8.

Figures 1 and 3 show how the present invention is mounted with regard tothe inlet manifold and the outlet of a carburetor, these elements beingrespectively indicated by numerals I and 2 as heretofore indicated. Theplate 5 is mounted between the two members as heretofore indicated; inthis position the conical members 9 and I I project into the interior ofthe passageway I'. In operation the motor swirl travels from thecarburetor and follows the path indicated by the arrows. It is, or amajority thereof, in a vaporous state and passes through the screens 9and II. However, as it passes through the perforations of such screenmembers'the action of the screen or perforate members tends to preventthe vapor from breaking down into a fluid state. Motor fuel still in aliquid state may be withdrawn from the carburetor through passageways l'and 2. This liquid fuel has a tendencyto creep along the walls of suchpassageways and into the motor; however, the purpose of the presentconical mem-- bers is to collect or catch such liquids and to cast itagainst their screened surfaces, thus thorough-' ly breaking up andtransforming it into a vapor-.

ous state.

To aid in this transformation, air is .drawn through the passageway l6by the action of the motor, and this air by reason of the tangentialdisposition of such passageway is caused to swirl rapidly about thepassageway I, aiding in the collection of the liquid fuel from the wallsof such passageway. By reason of the position of the screen members 9and I I such air flow is to a certain extent counteracted thereby, thusbreaking up such flow and to a great extent even entirely transformingthe liquid fuel into a vaporous state, thus insuring that the fuel whenit reaches the engine is in condition to provide suitable explosivepower.

While a specific form of the invention has been described andillustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may bevaried within the scope of the appended .claim, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim- In a gas mixer, a connectionprovided with a passageway, a conical screen having its base mounted tothe walls of the passageway in the connection and having its apexpositioned above the connectioma second conical screen extending uprightfrom its base and mounted upon the first apex, and said second screenhaving greater taper than its sides spaced from the sides of the firstand having its basal perimeter substantially equal to that of the firstscreen.

GERALD A. PICKETT.

